Washer grinding machine



May 20, 19 A. T. RICHARDSON WASHER GRINDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 21, 19403 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

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May 20, 1941 A T. RICHARDSON WASHER GRINDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 21, 19403 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

WITNESSES y 1941' A. T. RICHARDSON 2,242,801

WASHER GRINDING MACHINE 1 Filed Feb. 21, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3ATTORNEYS.

Patented May 20, 1941 WASHER GRINDING MACHINE Andrew '1. Richardson,Oakmont, Pa., assignor to Woodings-Verona Tool Works, Verona, Pa., acorporation of Pennsylvania Application February 21, 1940, Serial No.320,091

6 Claims.

This invention relates to grinding machines, and more particularly toapparatus for grinding helical lock washers.

As is well known, a helical lock washer is a circular washer which hasbeen split radially to form two end portions that are inclined away fromthe opposite sides of the major plane of the washer. When a nut istightened on a bolt against such a washer it bears against the outer orprojecting edges of the ends of the washer and moves those ends towardalignment with each other. Consequently, when it is desired to unscrewthe nut these projecting edges of the washer tend to out into the nutand prevent its removal. They may also damage the inner face of the nutto such an extent that it is not usable again, especially when thewashers are very stiff as when used with rail joints. Thesedisadvantages have therefore resulted in serious objections to the useof such lock washers with r railway tracks.

It is among the objects of this invention to overcome these objectionsby providing apparatus which removes the projecting edges of helicallock washer ends and which is simple in construction but highlysatisfactory and rapid in operation.

In accordance with this invention a conveyor is mounted for carryinghelical lock washers between a pair of grinding wheels. The conveyor isformed for holding each washer with its opposite ends projecting towardthe two wheels so that as it moves between them the projecting edges ofthose ends are ground off to form flattened or beveled portions thatwill not damage nor interfere with the unscrewing of a nut which hasbeen tightened against such a lock washer. Preferably, the washers aremounted in recesses in the conveyor which are so formed that one end ofeach washer projects above the conveyor and the other below it. Theopening through which the lower end of the washer projects may be largeenough to permit the washer to drop through it. In such a case thewasher is supported in the recess while it is being ground by a platedirectly below the conveyor, but this plate is provided with an openingthrough which the washer drops from the recess after grinding.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanydrawings in which Fig. 1 isa plan view of the preferred embodiment; Fig. 2 is an enlargedfragmentary perspective view of one of the conveyor recesses; Fig. 3 isan edge view of the con veyor with a washer mounted therein ready to beground; Fig. 4 is a side view of a ground washer; Figs. 5 and 6 arefront and side views, respectively, of the machine shown in Fig. 1;Figs. 7 and 8 are plan and side views of a modification of thisinvention; Figs. 9 and 10 are plan and rear views of another embodiment;and Fig. 11 is a side View of a still further modification of theinvention.

Referring to Figs. 1', 5 and 6, mounted on one corner of a frame I is anupright supporting member 2 provided with four pairs of vertical slots 3(Fig. 5). Projecting through these slots are bolts 4 that connect twoelectric motors 6 to the support, and mounted on the laterallyprojecting shafts of these motors are two vertically spaced grindingwheels 1 between which look washers ma be ground in a manner about to bedescribed. Slots 3 permit the grinding wheels to be adjusted verticallytoward each other as they are worn down.

To carry the washers between the grinding wheels in order to grind offthe projecting edges of their ends so as to form beveled areas It], asshown in Fig. 4, a conveyor is provided. This conveyor consists of ahorizontal table it rigidly mounted on the upper end of a vertical shaftl2 that is journaled in a pair of bearings I3 attached to the side of anupright bracket 14 mounted on frame I, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Thelower end of the shaft carries a bevel gear 56 which is driven by abevel pinion H from a gear reduction unit l8 that is operated by apulley I9 and belt 2| from an electric motor 22 inside of the frame.

The marginal portion of the table is provided in its upper surface witha plurality of circumferentially spaced washer-receiving recesses 26each of which is circular and large enough to permit a washer to fitsomewhat loosely therein so that it will not bind. Each recess isprovided with a bottom wall or floor 21 for supporting the washer withone of its ends projecting above the table near its edge, but this floorextends only part way across the bottom of the recess because it isdesirable to form an opening through which the other end of the washercan project downwardly below the table so that both ends can be groundsimultaneously. To hold the two projecting ends of the washer inapproximately the same positions relative to the table, the floor of therecess is inclined downwardly from the edge of the table toward theopposite side of the recess, as shown in Fig. 2.

Another feature of the invention is that each recess floor extends lessthan half-way across the bottom of its recess so that, if not supportedfrom below the table, the washer will tilt on the edge of the floor anddrop through the open bottom portion of the recess. To prevent this fromhappening between the time that washers are placed in the recesses andthe time they emerge from between the grinding wheels, a circular plate28 is rigidly mounted on top of bracket E i directly below the table.llhe plate is of less diameter than the table so that it will notinterfere with the projecting lower ends of the washers, but it projectsunder enough of each Washer to prevent it from. falling through thetable. between the wheels the table continues to slide them around onplate 28 until they reachv a peripheral opening 29 therein through whichthey fall from the table recesses into a receptacle (not shown).

To prevent any tendency of the lower grindingwheel to raise a washer inits table recess. 2%; while it is passing between the wheels, the

washer is pressed down tightly against floor 2? at that time. This ispreferably done by means of a leaf-spring 35 connected at one end to thetop oi a bracket 32 mounted on frame l. The spring extendslaterally overa portion of the table and its free end projects between the twogrinding wheels where. it presses downwardly on the innermost portion ofeachwasher while it is being ground.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 7 and 8 an endless.conveyor has been substituted for the rotatable table. This conveyor ismade from a plurality of bars fil disposed side by side and suitabllinked together to form an endless belt. The inner end of each isprovided with a washer-receiving recess similar to the ones previouslydescribed. However, in this embodiment it is not necessary for the floorof each recess to be so narrow to permit the washers to fail out thebottom of the recess, becausethe washers will fall out of the top of therecess when it starts to move downwardly around the conveyor-supportingsprocket (not shown) at one end of the conveyor. 7 f

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 9 and man endless conveyor iis used also, but in this case it is so mounted that it travels in adirection perpendicular to the axes of the grindin wheels i. To preventthe washers that are carried between the wheels by the conveyor fromwearing a peripheral groove in each wheel, meansis provided forreciprocating the wheels axially so that the entire width of theirgrinding faces will be used during the grinding operation. For thispurpose the two grinding wheel motors 6 are preferably mounted on avertical plate 52 that is mounted for lateral sliding movement on oneface of the upright support 2 against which it is held by upper andlower overlapping flanges 53. To reciprocate plate 52, a lever 55 ispivotally mounted at its center on the upper end of a post 55 mounted onframe 5. One end of the lever is pivotally connected to the centralportion or" plate 52, and the opposite end of the lever is provided witha roller 5? that extends into a peripheral groove 58 in a cam 59. Thisearn is in the form oi'a Wheel or disc mounted on the horizontal shaftiii that supports the sprocket (not shown) which carries one end oftheendless conveyor. This shaft is driven by a chain and sprocket drive62.from a motor 63 mounted in the frame. It will thus be seen that Afterthe washers have been ground.

while the machine is in operation the cam swings the outer end of thelever back and forth and thereby reciprocates the grinding wheelsaxially so that their entire grinding faces are used in grinding theends of washers passing between them.

Fig. 11 shows a further embodiment of the invention which is the same asthe one shown in Fig. 1 except that the grinding wheel motors 6 havebeen mounted with their shafts extending vertically toward each other sothat grinding wheels 7 are disposed with their fiat sides adjacent eachother. The wheels thus rotate in parallel horizontal planes above andbelow the marginal portion of the rotatable table 2 I. With this form ofthe invention the flat sides of the wheels do the grinding, and after amarginal portion of each wheel has been worn away a certain amount thewheels can be reversed so that their opposite unworn sides will then dothe grinding.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, I have explained theprinciple and construction of my invention and have illustrated anddescribed what I now consider to represent its best embodiments.However, I desire to have it understood that, within tthe scope of theappended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than asspecifically illustrated and described.

I claim: 7

1. Apparatus for grinding the projecting edges off the ends of helicallook washers, comprising a pair of vertically spaced grinding wheels, aconveyor adapted to carry a helical lock washer substantiallyhorizontally between said wheels, said conveyor being provided in itsupper surface with a washer-receiving recess having a floor forsupporting one end of the washer above the conveyor, a portion of saidrecess extending entirely through the conveyor to permit the other endof the washer to project below it, and means formoving the conveyorbetween said wheels whereby to grind the projecting edges from saidwasher ends.

2. Apparatus for grinding the projecting edges off the ends of helicallock washers, comprising a pair of vertically spaced grinding wheels, aconveyor adapted to carry a helical lock washer substantiallyhorizontally between said wheels, conveyor being provided in its uppersurface with a circular washer-receiving recess having substantially ahalf bottom wall, said wall being inclined upwardly from end to end tohold one end of the washer above the conveyor, the rest of the recessbottom being open to permit the other end of the washer to project belowthe conveyor, and means for moving the conveyor between said wheelswhereby to grind the projecting edges from said washer ends.

3. Apparatus for grinding the projecting edges off the ends of helicalloci; washers, comprising a pair of vertically space grinding wheels, aconveyor adapted to carry a helical lock'washer substantiallyhorizontally between said wheels, said conveyor being provided in itsupper surface with a washer-receiving recess having a floor supportingone end of the washer above the conveyor, a portion of said recessextending entirely through the conveyor to permit the other end of thewasher to project below it, means for moving the conveyor between saidwheels whereby togrindthe projecting edges from said washer ends, and aresilient member pressing the washer down against said recess floor asit passes between the grinding wheels.

4. Apparatus for grinding the projecting edges off the ends of helicallock washers, comprising a pair of vertically spaced grindin wheels, aconveyor adapted to carry a helical lock washer substantiallyhorizontally between said wheels, said conveyor being provided in itsupper surface with a washer-receiving recess having a floor forsupporting one end of the washer above the conveyor, a sufficientportion of said recess extending entirely through the conveyor to permitthe other end of the washer to project below it and to permit the washerto fall therefrom, a plate mounted below the conveyor and across whichthe lower end of the washer is adapted to slide to prevent it fromfallin out of said recess, and means for moving the conveyor betweensaid wheels whereby to grind the projecting edges from said washer ends,said plate being provided with an opening through which the washer fallsfrom said recess afterits ends have been ground oiT.

5. Apparatus for grinding the projecting edges off the ends of helicallock washers, comprising a pair of vertically spaced grinding wheels, asubstantially horizontal rotatable table mounted beside said wheels withits marginal portion ex tending between them, said marginal portionbeing provided in its upper surface with a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced Washer-receiving recesses, each of saidrecesses having a partial floor for supporting one end of a helical lockwasher above the table and the remainder of the recess extendingentirely through the table to permit the other end of the washer toproject below it and to permit the washer to fall therefrom, a circularplate mounted directly below said table for holding the washers up insaid recesses, and means for rotating the table to carry the washersbetween said wheels whereby to grind the projecting ends from saidwasher ends, the marginal portion of said plate being provided with anopening through which the washers fall from said recesses after theirends have been ground off.

6. Apparatus for grinding the projecting edges off the ends of helicallock washers, comprising a pair of vertically spaced grinding wheels, asubstantially horizontal rotatable table mounted beside said wheels withits marginal portion extending between them, said marginal portion beingprovided in its upper surface with a plurality of circumferentiallyspaced washer-receiving recesses, each of said recesses having a partialfloor for supporting one end of a helical lock washer above the tableand the remainder of the recess extending entirely through the table topermit the other end of the washer to project below it and to permit thewasher to fall therefrom, a circular plate mounted directly below saidtable for holding the washers up in said, recesses, and means forrotating the table to carry the washers between said wheels whereby togrind the projecting ends from said washer ends, and a leaf-springprojecting between the wheels for pressing the washers down against saidrecess floors as they pass between the wheels.

ANDREW T. RICHARDSON.

